Burner and fuel flow control means



Oct. l5, 1946. J. l. anais; l 2,409,470

. BURNER ANUPUBL FLO CONTROL BARS vmhd .my 1s. 1944 Zwzzzar -ms .Breese@PQ/AM um,

75k/'frega Patented Oct. 15, 1946 i PATENT OFFICE BURNER AND FUEL FLOWCONTROL MEANS James L. Breese, Santa Fe, N. Mex., assignor to (lilDevices, Santa Fe, N. Mex., a limited partnership of IllinoisApplication July 13, 1944, Serial No. 544.736

9 Claims. l

My invention relates to an improvement in hydrocarbon burners and hasfor one purpose the provision of a burner for burning liquid hydrocarbonfuels which shall be simple, economical and eilicient in operation.

Another purpose is the provision of improved means for supplying aburner through a single passage or inlet member with all of the airnecessary to support the primary combustion of the fuel.

- Another purpose is. the provision of-improved means for preventing anexcess supply of fuel and for cutting off the fuel supply when an excesssupply hasybeen delivered.

Another purpose is the provision of improved means for supplying primaryand secondary air for the combustion of liquid fuel hydrocarbons along asingle inlet member.

Another` purpose is to provide improved means for vaporizng liquid fuelin a zone of combustion in the presence and for mixture with airadequate to support partial and eventually final fuel com-v."

bustion.

Another purpose is to provide an improved means for controlling thelevel-` of liquid fuel subjected to vaporization within a mixing andcombustion chamber.

Other; purposes will appear from time to time in the course of thespecication,

I illustrate my invention more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through an embodie ment of my device; and

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2''2 of Fig. 1.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout the specificationand drawing. Referring to the drawing, Iillustrate a combustion chamberI, herein shown 'as in the form of a drum, having a bottom or baseportion 2 and. if desired, abottom body 3 of any suitable materialI suchasfire'brick." It will be understood that the burner may be applied to awide variety of heaters, furnacesuand the like, but I illustrate'it inconnection with a water heater 5 having a cem tral nue passage 3;*Ijemploy--a single airand fuel Vinlet member having an outer passage .l,herein shown as vertiehand with an open top' 8,

or` any other suitableme'ans for admitting air.`

It has a horizontal portion 3,which extends in? wardly through the walloij the jmember I, l herein showni as 'terminating' with -a' 'd wnwardelbow I0, which may'be'aidally. aligned withthef iiue passage 6.I'provide aufixedvaporivzing 30 of metal or any othersuitablematerialtwhich I may be mounted on any suitable supports 3i 'orci. s-42.3)

may otherwise be supported or positioned within the wall I defining themixing and combustionchamber. 32 is a float of any suitable materialadapted to resist or be undamaged by the temperatures to which it issubjected. It maybe of stainless steel or some ceramic material and issuiiiciently buoyant to oat on the fuel 33. Il is any suitable operatingrod `upon the free end of -which the iioat 32 is secured. It controlsany suitable worm or screw 33 through any suitable nut 36 to control avalve element 31 opposed to a seating 38 in the liquid fuel inlet duct39. It will be understood that when the level of the fuel 33 drops inresponse to vaporization of the fuel in the vaporizing cup 3|)v theconstant rotation of the arm 34 moves valve 31 away from the valve seat33 and permits an inflow of liquid fuel. Also when sufficient fuel has.been supplied, the rise vof the float 32 moves the valve 31 towardclosing zo position. The duct 1 may be employed to supply al air may beadmitted through other inlets. may provide for example the accessopening I0 controlled by a. movable door 4I which may have damperapertures I2.

It will be realized that, whereas I have described and illustrated apractical and operative device, nevertheless many changes may be made inthe size, shape, number and disposition o! vention. =Itherefore wish myydescription and drawing to be'takenas in a broad sense illustrative ordiagrammatic, rather than as limiting me to my precise showing.

Theguleand operation of my invention are v asfollowsz" fr I proviheating device in which a liquid fuel.l such. dhydrocarbon, may beburned. I have iv my device in connection with u ble for, a hotwaterheater, but ih willbe,'uriv rstod that `I mayapply it to'space heaters,furnaces. or the like, or any other heatfngnnieans." 'y Basically, Iemploy an inlet passage of substantially greater capacity than isnecessaryfor the mere supply of a liquidfuel to be burned. In

all the air necessary for combustion; or additionparts withoutdepartingfrom the spirit of my in- For examplepthe shape and proportionof the drawing I illustrate an air passage oi' subntial cross sectionalarea, which receives air ...ie open top 8 and delivers the air inwardlyaiong the passage 9. The liquid fuel is admitted along the passage 39,past the valve members 3&3, and ows inwardly along the passage S. .as asubstantial length of the, passage 9 is` sub- .iected to the heat ofcombustion within the member i, the tube through which the mixture ofprimary air and the liquid fuel flows is highly heated. Enough air isadmitted to constitute the entire primary supply of air, and the liquidhydrocarbon, in the presence of this primary air,

. is vapor-ized' and forms, with the primary air, a

hydroxylated mixture.

The mixture is supplied at a speed exceeding that of flame propagation,so that the mixture cannot burn back into the passage 9, with aconsequent deposit of carbon. It will be understood that I may employany means for maintaining this relatively high flow of mixture. If inany particular situation natural draft is not sulcient, may employ amotor driven fan, or other suitable means not herein shown.

Fuel is supplied in suiiicient volume to malntaln a re which willsubject the member 9 to temperatures suflicient t vaporlze the liquidfuel and to superheat the final mixture. When the mixture escapes fromthe downturned end lill of the member 9, it receives sufficientsecondary air in the space defined by the drum I to produce a unalmixture which is burned in the combustion chamber.

l may employ any suitable inlet means for supplying this secondary air.It is advantageous to deliver the secondary air so as to maintain a zoneof combustion directly adjacent the passage l0 so that 'the liquid fuelis properly vaporized and the primary mixture superheated.

li und it advantageous to provide means for cutting of the fuel supplyin the event that an excess supply of fuel, more than can be vaporized,is delivered from the outlet I0.

@il flows from the inlet 39 through the valve orlce into the tube 9, andflows out along the tube, which is pitched somewhat downwardly towardthe mouth I0. The oil starts in as a liquid after passing the valve seat3B, and flows down `the lower surface of the tube d. Before it reachesthe orifice til it is vaporized by the heat of combastion.

The air passing through the tube 9 is sulcient to completely hydroxylatethe mixture. and a dry combustible gas flows downwardly through theorifice ill at a velocity greater than that of darne propagation. 'I'hisvelocity is sumclent to prevent iiame from burning back into the tube.

any suitable secondary air supply means may employed for supplyingsecondary air to the space within the drum or housing i. understood thatin any event secondary air is admitted to the space within the drum Iand that thlssecondary air is sufficient and effective to maintain finalcomplete combustion of the mixture which iows from the orioe i d.

With reference to the drawing I provide means for controlling the liquidfuel valve in response to variations in the amount of liquid fuelpresent in the mixing chamber or Zone and in the van porlzng member.Variations in the amount or Revel of the fuel subjected to vaporizationare employed to control the liquid fuel inlet valve 3l.

I claim:

i. 'in combination, in a liquid fuel lburner, a mixing and combustionchamber element theret for, having air inlet means, means for deliveringa liquid fuel to the interior of said chamber element, a liquid fuelreceiving cup, located in said interior of said chamber element and inthe line of delivery of liquid fuel to the interior of said chamberelement, and means for varying the flow of liquid fuel to the interiorof said chamber element in response to changes in the volume of theliquid fuel in said cup.

2. In combination, in a liquid fuel burner, a mixing and combustionchamber element therefor, having air inlet means, means for delivering aliquid fuel to the interior of said chamber element, a liquid fuelreceiving cup, located in said interior of said chamber element and inthe line of delivery of liquid fuel to the interior of said chamberelement, and means for varying the flow of liquid fuel to the interiorof said chamber element in response to changes in the level of theliquid fuel in said cup.

3. In combination, in a liquid fuel burner, a mixing and combustionchamber element therefor, having air inlet means, means for delivering aliquid fuel to the interior of said chamber element. a liquid fuelreceiving cup, located in said interior of said chamber element and inthe line of delivery of liquid fuel to the interior of said chamberelement, and means for varying the flow of liquid fuel to the interiorof said chamber element in response to changes in the level of theliquid fuel in said cup, said cup being normally fixed within and inrelation to said mixing and of unvaporized liquid fuel present in saidchamber.

5. In combination, in a liquid fuel burner, a mixing and combustionchamber element therefor, having air inlet means, means for delivering aliquid fuel to the interior of said chamber eleof liquid fuel to theinterior of said chamber ele- It will be ment, in response to changes inthe volume of liquid fuel ln said cup including a float memberresponsive to the level of liquid fuel in said cup.

6. In combination, in a liquid fuel burner, a mixing and combustionchamber element therefor, having air inlet means, means for delivering aliquid fuel to the interior of said chamber element, a liquid fuelreceiving cup, located in said interior of said chamber element and inthe line 35 of delivery of liquid fuel to the interior of said interiorof said chamber element, and in Ithe line o! delivery of liquid fuel tothe interior of said chamber elements,` and means for varying the i'iowof liquid fuel to the interior of said chamber element in response toincreases in the level of the liquid fuel in said cup.

8. In' combination, in a liquid fuel burner, a mixing and combustionchamber element there for, having air inlet means. means for deliveringa liquid fuel to the interior of said chamber element, a liquid fuelreceiving cup, located in said interior of said chamber element and inthe line of delivery of liquid fuel tothe interior of said chamberelement, and means fox-'varying the flow of liquid fuel to the interiorof said chamber element in response to increases in the level of theliquid fuel in said cup, said cup being normally xed within and inrelation to said mixing and combustion chamber. v

9. In combination, in a liquidfuel burner, a mixing and combustionchamber element therefor having air inlet means, means for delivering aliquid fuel to the interior of said chamber element, means in saidchamber element for receiving said liquid fuel and for maintaining itinposition for vapo'xization by the heat of combustion taking place withinor adjacent said chamber element, and means for varying the rate of flowof liquid fuel to the interior of said lchamber element in response toincreases in the volume oi'` unvaporized liquid iuel present in saidchamber.

JAMES n nREE'sE.

